Stenographic machines



June 23, 1959 H. B. SMITH 2,891,647

STENOGRAPHIC MACHINES 7 Filed May 28, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 I, I V 4;

June 23, 1959 H. B. SMITH STENOGRAPHIC MACHINES '2 Shasta-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1957 United States Patent Ofiice 2,891,647 Patented June 23, 1959 STENOGRAPHIC MACHINES Howard Burton Smith, Washington, D.C.

Application May 28, 1957, Serial No. 662,966

13 Claims. (Cl. 197-9) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in stenographic machines, that is, machines used for typing shorthand; Such machines usually employ a set of type bars movable toward and away from a rotatable platen, an inking ribbon being interposed between the platen and the type bars so that an impression is made on paper passing over the platen when the type bars are actuated.

In conventional machines a certain amount of undesirable noise results from the movement of the type bars toward and away from the platen, and the principal object of the present invention is not only to greatly minimize or totally eliminate this noise, but also to substantially minimize the number of moving parts in the machine, thus reducing its cost of manufacture and enhancing the ease with which the machine is operated. As such, the machine in accordance with the present invention is particularly well adapted for use in judicial proceedings where quietness of operation is highly essential, the machine being operable with equal facility while the operator is sitting, standing or walking.

One of the important features of the invention resides in materially reducing the distance which the type bars travel toward and away from the platen, consistently with providing sufficient space between the platen and the type bars to permit free movement of the ribbon and paper therebetween, and imparting sutficient step-by-step movement to the platen so that the paper is fed by a sufiicient distance at each stroke of the keys to prevent overlapping or crowding of characters impressed on the paper by the type bars.

The instant invention is particularly well adapted for embodiment in stenographic machines of the general type disclosed in my earlier Patent No. 1,954,834, dated April 17, 1934; Patent No. 2,283,235, dated May 19, 1942; Patent No. 2,357,142, dated August 29, 1944; and

Patent No. 2,419,737, dated April 29, .1947, all these patents disclosing machines having key bars provided with actuating keys at thefront of the machine, a platen adjacent the rear ends of the key bars, and type bars disposed rearwardly of the platen and actuated by the key bars so that they travel forwardly in the general direction from the operator toward the platen when the keys are depressed.

In machines of this general type it is advantageous to employ a ribbon in the form of an endless band which travels in a closed, continuouspath encompassing the M type bars, such as for example, in my Patent No.

1,954,834 mentioned above. However, it is not practical to splice the ribbon in order to form the endless band, since the double thickness of the ribbon at the splice .would interfere with the passage thereof between the ,platenand the type bars, particularly if the type bars were-positioned closely to the platen to minimize noise incident to their movement, as in the present invention.

' Accordingly, it is a further object of the present invention to facilitate convenient and, expeditious installation and removal of'an endless ribbon in and from the machine, notwithstanding the fact that the closed, continuous path of travel of the ribbon encompasses many of the working parts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved means for driving the platen with a proper and sufficient amount of movement being imparted thereby to the paper, whereby to prevent overlapping or crowding of characters impressed on the paper by the'type bars as aforesaid, while a further object resides in providing improved means for driving the ribbon, both these driving means being actuated by a common universal bar and means also being provided for adjusting the parts so asto result in driving the platen and the ribbon in stepsof predetermined magnitude at each actuation of the keys.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved operating connection between the type bars and the key bars of the machine, the same involving'the use of intermediate bell cranks whereby movements of the key bars are transmitted to the type bars, the arrangement being such that the key bars, type bars and bell cranks operate with harmonious leverages to assure easy, quiet and positive action.

With the foregoing more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein: I

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal 'sectional view in a'vertical plane of a machine in accordance withthe invention;

Figure 2 is a right-hand side elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary left-hand side elevational view; 1 v

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane of the line 44 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail on an enlarged scale, taken substantially in the plane of the line 55 in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail on an enlarged scale, taken substantially in the plane of the line 6-6 in Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale of the universal bar;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale of a spring used in the invention; and' Figure 9 is a fragmentary. sectional detail showing a slightly modified attachment of the sub-frame to themain frame of the machine.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, it should be understood that they illustrate only the components of the machine with which the present invention is directly concerned, while the other or remaining components may be arranged in any suitable conventional manner, well known to those skilled in the art.

The machine is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and embodies in its construction a main frame 11 consisting of a pair of spaced side plates 12 which are rigidly secured together at suitable points by transversely extending bars or straps 13, 14, and one or more tie rods 15. I

The side plates 12 are provided with suitable openings -16 which removably receive therein side plates 17 of a frame. If desired, the plates 17 may be constituted by portions of the plates 12 which are removed when the openings 16 are formed. 1

The side plates 17 of the sub-frame are rigidly secured together by transverse tie rods 19, 19a which, as is best shown in Figure 5, have end portions provided with shoulders 20 to abut the inner surfaces of the plates 17 to which the tie rods are secured by suitable screws 21. The tie rod or rods 15 of the main frame are arranged in substantially the same manner, while the aforementioned straps or bars 13, 14 have reduced end portions 22 inserted in slots in the plates 12 and peened or riveted, as indicated at 23.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the entire sub-frame 18 may be inserted in and removed from the main frame 11 in a lateral direction with respect to the main frame, and from either side. Suitable keeper straps 25, 25a are secured by a plurality of screws 26 to the outer surfaces of the plates 12 and overlap edge portions of the plates 17 as shown in Figure 6, whereby the sub-frame is retained in position in the main frame. The sub-frame may be laterally removed by simply removing the keeper straps 25, 25a at the side of the machine to which the sub-frame is to be withdrawn.

In a somewhat modified form of the invention shown in Figure 9, only one of the main frame plates 12 is provided with the opening 16, while the other plate 12 is solid and receives the adjacent plate 17 of the sub-frame against its inner surface. The two juxtaposed plates 12, 17 are secured together by one or more screws 27 which serve to retain the sub-frame in the main frame and eliminate the use of the keeper straps 25, 25a. The screw or screws 27 may be provided in the juxtaposed plates 12, 17 at any suitable points and it will be noted that this arrangement facilitates removal of the sub-frame only from one side of the main frame, while in the arrangement previously described the sub-frame may be removed from either side of the machine.

A platen 28 is rotatably mounted between the plates 12 of the main frame and the supporting shaft 29 of the platen projects outwardly to one side, preferably the right-hand side, of the machine, to carry a conventional clutch 30 whereby step-by-step rotation may be imparted to the platen, for the purpose of feeding the paper (not shown) through the machine.

A cross-shaft 31 extends between the plates 17 of the sub-frame 18 adjacent and rearwardly of the platen and has rockably mounted thereon a set of type bars 32 equipped with type faces 33 which are movable toward and away from the platen when the type bars are actuated. The type bars have relatively long, rearwardly extending portions 32a which, in turn, are operatively engaged by lobes 34 of bell cranks 35, the latter being rockably mounted on a cross-shaft 36 which extends between the sub-frame plates 17 at a point rearwardly of the shaft 31.

The type bars 32 are resiliently urged away from the platen 28 and in engagement with the respective bell cranks by a comb-shaped spring 37 which, as is best shown in Figure 8, comprises a base member 37a formed integrally with a set of independently flexible, resilient fingers 37b. The base member 37a of the spring is clamped by suitable bolts 3% between a pair of superposed straps 39, one of which is provided with angulat'ed ears 40 which, in turn, are secured by bolts or screws 41 to the sub-frame plates 17, whereby the entire spring 37 is mounted in the sub-frame above the type bars 32. The free ends of the fingers 37b engage lobes 42 formed at the rear ends of the type bar portions 32a, as will be clearly apparent.

Suitable stub-shafts 43 are secured to and project laterally vfrom opposite sides of the main frame plates 12 to carry the key bars 44, the latter extending foiwardly at both sides of the machine beyond the platen 28 and being provided at their forward ends with suitable keys 45, The inner ends of the key bars are provided with upwardly directed, inwardly angulated extensions 44:! which project into the sub-frame through suitable openings 46 formed in the plates 17 and operatively engage lobes 47 formed on the respective bell cranks 35.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that when any one of the keys 45 is depressed as indicated by the arrow 48 in Figure l, the associated key bar 44, through its portion 44a moving in the direction of the arrow 49, will actuate the associated bell crank 35 so that the latter will move the associated type bar 32 as shown at 50, so that the type face 33 of the type bar moves forwardly, in the general direction from the operator, toward the platen 28, as shown at 51. The bell cranks 35 function as intermediate operative connecting means between the key bars and the type bars, and both the key bars and type bars as well as the bell cranks are proportioned so that harmonious leverages exist which assure quiet but positive action of the type faces against the platen without sacrilice of ease of touch at the keys of the key bars. It is to be particularly noted that the type faces 33 of the type bars are closely adjacent to the platen so that very little movement of the type bars is sufficient for their actuation, and correspondingly quiet operation is attained.

A pair of crank-shaped arms 52, 53 are provided on the cross-shaft 36 at the outside of the plates 17 to carry a universal bar 54 which extends transversely of the subframe 18. The bar 54 is formed with a longitudinal groove 55 in which is mounted an elongated pad 56 of felt or similar material, operatively engageable by the bell cranks 35. The universal bar extends freely through the openings 46 to the outside of the sub-frame and is secured to the arms 52, 53 by suitable screws 57 extending through slots 58 with which these arms are provided. By virtue of the slots 58, the universal bar 54 may be adjusted on the arms 52, 53 toward and away from the shaft 36, whereby the amount of movement imparted to the bar by the bell cranks 35 may be correspondingly varied.

As is best shown in Figure 2, the arm 52 is formed integrally with a lever-like extension 52a which, in turn, has superposed thereon and ajustably secured thereto an extension member 59. The latter is pivotally connected by a link 60 to the aforementioned clutch 39 of the platen 28 and a suitable tension spring 61 extends from one of the pivotal connections of the link 60 to an anchor post 62, whereby to urge the arm portion 52 downwardly and correspondingly urge the universal bar 54 against the bell cranks 35. The post 62 may be provided either on the main frame 11 or on the subframe 18, as desired.

The attachment of the extension member 59 to the arm portion 52a is effected by suitable screws 63, 64, extending through slots 65, 66, respectively, in the member 59, these slots being disposed substantially at right angles to each other and the slot 66 being suificiently Wide in relation to the diameter of the screw 64 as to permit adjustment of the screw 63 in the slot 65. Adjustment by the screw 64 longitudinally in the slot 66 may be effected while the screw 63 merely functions as a pivot point in the slot 65 and as a combined result of these adjustments, the extension member 59 may be pre-adjusted on the arm portion 52a relative to the link 60 and clutch 343 so as to produce the desired amount of movement of the clutch for each actuation of the universal bar 54 by the bell cranks 35 to effect proper feeding of paper over the platen 28 and prevent overlapping or crowding of characters impressed on the paper by the type bars 32. The rigid, although adjustable, attachment of the member 59 to the arm portion 52a is simple in structure and eliminates the usual complicated linkage which is conventionally employed for operatively connecting the universal bar to the clutch of the platen.

When any of the key bars 44 are actuated, the movement of the associated bell crank or cranks 35 in the direction of the arrow 49 will cause the universal bar 54 to move in the same direction (see Figuresl and 2) and the movement of the arm 52 and extension member 59 in the direction of the arrow 67 will be transmitted by the link 60 to impart a part-turn to the platen 28 through the clutch 30, as indicated at 68, thus advancing the paper over the platen.

The arm 53 at the relatively opposite side of the machine is formed with a short extension 53a (see Figure 3) on which is mounted a pawl 69 by means of a suitable stud or screw 70. The pawl 69 is urged by a suitable spring (not shown) in a step-by-step driving engagement with the periphery of a friction disc 71 which, in turn, imparts rotation to a cylindrical ribbon inking and driving roller 72. The latter is disposed within the subframe 18 and is provided with tmnnions 73, rotatably journalled in the plates 17, as shown. The disc 71 is secured to one of these trunnions.

An inking ribbon in the form of an endless band passes over the roller 72 and travels in a closed, continuous path within the sub-frame 18, as will be presently explained. The ribbon, shown at 74, passes between the platen 28 and the type faces 33 of the type bars 32, the endless path of the ribbon following generally the marginal edge portions of the sub-frame plates 17 and tubular sleeves 75 being rotatably positioned on some of the aforementioned tie rods 19 so as to guide the ribbon along its path.

The roller 72 is of suitable construction, well known in the art, whereby it is adapted to be impregnated with a supply of ink and transfer the same to the ribbon while driving the ribbon at the same time.

The movement of the universal bar 54 and arm 53 in the direction of the arrow 49 upon actuation of any of the key bars 44, causes the arm portion 53a and the pawl 69 to move in the direction of the arrow 76, thus imparting a part-tum rotation to the disc 71 and roller 72 for driving the ribbon 74. As shown in Figure 1, the upper run of the ribbon is driven forwardly in the direction of the arrow 77, so that the portion of the ribbon freshly inked by the roller travels directly to the paper on the platen.

The closed, continuous path of travel of the ribbon encompasses the roller 72, the sleeves 75 on the tie rods 19, the type bars 32, thespring 37, the bell cranks 35, the universal bar 54, the inner portions 44a of the key bars 44, as well as the cross-shafts 31, 36 and the tie rod 19a.

The marginal edges of the sub-frame plates 17 are spaced inwardly somewhat from the path of travel of the ribbon and when it is desired to change the ribbon, the keeper straps 25, 25a at either side (preferably the left-hand side) of the machine are removed and the operative connection between the arm 52 and the clutch 30 is disconnected, for example, at the link 60. The subframe may then be bodily removed from the mainframe in a lateral direction, together with the type bars 32, spring 37, bell cranks 35, universal bar 54 and the arms 52, 53. The inner portions 44a of the key bars 44, of course, remain in place, and as the sub-frame is being withdrawn from the main frame, the ribbon 74 is slipped laterally off the roller 72 and sleeves 75 and over one of the sub-frame plates 17 so that the ribbon remains between the plates 12 of the main frame when removal of the sub-frame is effected. The lower run of the ribbon may then be manipulated into a longitudinally folded position so that the ribbon may be withdrawn upwardly through the space 78 between the two banks of key bar portions 44a and removed clear of the machine. A new ribbon may be installed by simply reversing the above described procedure.

The sub-frame may also be removed from the main frame in the other lateral direction, that is, to the righthand side of the machine in the same manner as already described in regard to its removal to the left. However, if the sub-frame is to be removed to the right-hand side, the disc 71 needs to be removed from the associated trunnion 73 of the ribbon roller 72 inasmuch as the periphery of the disc projects beyond the edge of the openings 16 in the plates 12.

It is to be noted that the arrangement and relative proportions of the key bars, type bars, bell cranks, universal bar, arms 52, 53 and linkage 52a, 59, 60 is such that the existing leverages cooperate harmoniously to produce quiet, positive operation with a marked lightness of touch at the keys. The ribbon driving means 53, 69, 71 and 72 assure adequate movement of the ribbon in relation to actuation of the type bars, it being noted that since the ribbon travels vertically rather than horizontally over the row of type faces, the rate of travel of the ribbon is greatly reduced since the points of contact of the type faces in the row do not overlap on the ribbon in a horizontal direction. Moreover, the particular positioning of the universal bar 54 and its connection with the clutch 30 affords adequate turning of the platen 28 to feed the paper thereon, so that crowding or overlapping of typed characters is prevented. The various adjustments which are provided, such as for example, at 57, 58 and 63-66, permit pre-setting of parts with a fine degree of precision, so that the leverages and resultant actions of the machine are correctly adjusted.

By virtue of the bell cranks 35, the overall length of the machine is materially reduced as compared to machines of conventional types, so that the instant machine is more compact, lighter in weight, and easier to carry.

It may be also pointed out that in conventional machines the universal bar is usually located under the key bars adjacent the keys, that is, in a plane where the key bars are forwardly divergent in order to allow sufficient clearance between the keys. As such, the conventional universal bar has a considerable transverse span and, therefore, is relatively heavy. By comparison, in the present invention the universal bar 54 is located between the platen 28 and the cross-shafts or stub shafts 43 in a position where it needs to span only the relatively short width of the set of bell cranks 35 at the inner, convergent ends of the key bar portions 44a. As a result, the universal bar 54 is considerably shorter and lighter in weight than a conventional bar, facilitating easier operation and lighter touch at the keyboard.

While in the foregoing there has been described and shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desiredto limit the invention to this disclosure, and various modifications may be resorted to, such as may lie within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a stenographic machine, the combination of a frame, a rotatable platen mounted therein, a first crossshaft provided in said frame adjacent and rearwardly of said platen, a set of type bars rockable on said first cross-shaft and having type faces movable toward and away from the platen, a second cross-shaft provided in said frame rearwardly of the first cross-shaft, a set of bell cranks rockable on said second cross-shaft and operatively engaging the respective type bars, and a set of key bars pivotally mounted exteriorly at opposite sides of said frame and extending forwardly of said platen, said key bars having inner end portions extending into the frame and operatively engaging the respective bell cranks.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with resilient fingers mounted in said frame and engaging the respective type bars for urging the type faces thereof away from said platen and for urging the type bars in operative engagement with the respective bell cranks.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 together with a universal bar swingably attached to said second crossshaft and having said bell cranks engageable therewith, and means operatively connecting said universal bar to said platen for rotating the same.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 together with an LJ endless inking ribbon movable in said frame and passing between said platen and the type faces of said type bars, a universal bar swingably attached to said second crossshaft and having said bell cranks engageable therewith, and means operatively connecting said universal bar to said ribbon for driving the same.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein said ribbon travels in a closed continuous path encompassing said type bars and said bell cranks.

6. In a stenographic machine, the combination of a frame, a rotatable platen mounted therein, a first crossshaft provided in said frame adjacent said platen, a set of type bars rockable on said first cross-shaft and having type faces movable toward and away from the platen, a second cross-shaft provided in said frame, a set of bell cranks rockable on said second cross-shaft and operatively engaging the respective type bars, a set of key bars carried by the frame and operatively engaging the respective bell cranks, a pair of arms provided on the second cross-shaft, a universal bar carried by said arms and having said bell cranks engageable therewith, a clutch for rotating said platen, an extension provided on one of said arms and rigid therewith, and a link operatively connecting said extension to said clutch, whereby rotation may be imparted to said platen when said universal bar is actuated by any one of said bell cranks.

7. The device as defined in claim 6 together with means for adjusting said universal bar on said arms toward and away from said second cross-shaft.

8. The device as defined in claim 6 together with means for adjusting said extension on the associated arm relative to said clutch.

9. In a stenographic machine, the combination of a frame, a rotatable platen mounted therein, a first cross shaft provided in said frame adjacent said platen, a set of type bars rockable on said first cross-shaft and having type faces movable toward and away from the platen, a second cross-shaft provided in said frame, a set of bell cranks rockable on said second crossshaft and operatively engaging the respective type bars, a set of key bars pivotally mounted exteriorly at opposite sides of said frame, said key bars having inner end portions extending into the frame and operatively engaging the respective bell cranks, an endless inking ribbon movable in a closed continuous path in said frame and passing between said platen and said type faces of said type bars, the path of said ribbon encompassing said type bars and said bell cranks and the inner end portions of said key bars, and means for bodily removing said type bars and said bell cranks laterally from said frame.

10. The device as defined in claim 9 together with a universal bar swingably attached to said second crossshaft and having said bell cranks engageable therewith,

and means operatively connecting said universal bar to said platen for rotating the same, said universal bar being removable laterally from said frame bodily with said type bars and said bell cranks.

11. The device as defined in claim 9 wherein said last mentioned means comprise a sub-frame removable laterally from said frame, said ribbon and said first and second mentioned cross-shafts being carried by said subframe.

12. In a stenographic machine, the combination of a main frame, a sub-frame attached to and removable laterally from said main frame, a rotatable platen mounted in the main frame, a first cross-shaft provided in said sub-frame adjacent and rearwardly of said platen, a set of type bars rockable on said first cross-shaft and having type faces movable toward and away from the platen, a second cross-shaft provided in the sub-frame rearwardly of the first cross-shaft, a set of bell cranks rockable on the second crossshaft and operatively engaging the respective type bars, a set of key bars pivotally mounted exteriorly at opposite sides of said main frame and extending forwardly of said platen, said key bars having inner end portions extending into said sub-frame and operatively engaging the respective bell cranks, a pair of arms provided on said second cross-shaft extcriorly of the sub-frame, a universal bar carried by said arms transversely of the sub-frame and having said bell cranks engageable therewith, a ribbon driving roller rotatable in said sub-frame, an endless inking ribbon passing around said roller and between said platen and the type faces of said type bars, said ribbon travelling in a closed continuous path encompassing said type bars and said bell cranks and said universal bar and the inner end portions of said key bars, means operatively connecting one of said arms to said platen for rotating the same, and means operatively connecting the other of said arms to said roller for driving said ribbon, said type bars and said bell cranks and said universal bar and said arms being removable from said main frame bodily with said subframe.

13. In a stenographic machine, the combination of a platen, a set of type bars movable toward and away from said platen, a supporting shaft, a set of key bars mounted on said shaft, 21 set of bell cranks operatively connecting said key bars to said type bars, and a universal bar operatively engaged by said bell cranks, said universal bar being located between said shaft and said platen.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

